NCMCF Common Grant
Common Grant Application Mini-grant Application Budget Sample Final Grant Report
North Central Michigan Community Foundation (NCMCF) welcomes your grant application. Look over the information in the Application Guidelines below to find answers to questions about eligibility, deadlines, amounts available, and other frequently asked questions about available funds.
- Complete the Common Grant Application. If you reproduce this form on your computer, be sure not to exceed six (6) numbered pages. Use the two-page mini-grant application for grants of $300 or less.
- Complete the Budget and attach a Budget Narrative to explain the project in greater detail. A sample budget is provided for your use. Be sure to list any additional funding sources for your project.
- Include the following attachments:
- 501 (c)(3) documentation
- Current list of Board of Directors
- Do not include additional materials unless specifically requested in the attachments. Report covers, folders, binders, and excess information are unnecessary and are usually removed before applications are sent to the Screening Committee.
- Be sure to secure the appropriate signatures from your organization (i.e., executive director or person in charge of the organization) before your proposal is submitted.
- If you will not be using a computer or typewriter, please be sure your grant application is legible and written in ink.
If you have questions about the grant application process, please feel free to contact a Foundation program staff member at 877-354-6881. We would be happy to help you!
The NCMCF Common Grant deadline is June 30. Applications must be sent to P.O. Box 495, Alpena, MI 49707, and be postmarked by June 30.
Click here for NCMCF Common Grant Application. (85kb)
Application Guidelines
PLEASE NOTE NEW CHANGES:
On August 22, 2007, the NCMCF Board of Directors adopted a new grant policy. Among the changes is one that will affect our grantees and applicants:
An organization may apply each year for a grant. However, no program may be funded for more than two (2) consecutive grant cycles or two (2) years, whichever is longer. The Community Foundation will not support the sustained funding of any program. Repeated applications and previously funded projects cannot be guaranteed additional funding after the first two years or grant cycles of funding.
View the entire grant policy.
A Final Grant Report will also be required upon completion of your project if it has been awarded funding. This information will be sent to you with any grant notification. The form can also be accessed at the link at the top of this page.
About your organization
- Your organization must provide benefits to those within the geographic area of Crawford, Ogemaw, or Oscoda County.
- Your organization must be recognized as a non-profit charitable organization under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code. (Schools and government agencies are also eligible. Grants to religious organizations will be considered only if they serve the general public and do not have religious overtones of a sectarian nature.) Proof of non-profit status is required for auditing purposes.
- No grants are made to individuals.
About your project
- Grants are made for future projects only. No funding will be given for projects completed before final board approval. Board approval is usually within six (6) weeks of the grant deadline. Grants are not made for routine operating needs or budget deficits.
- Proposals seeking "seed money" for projects that are new, dynamic, and that show funding support from additional organizations are given stronger consideration.
- If your program has been funded either two consecutive years or two consecutive grant cycles, you are not eligible to apply for this program.
About funds available
- Applicants may submit requests up to a maximum of $1,000 per application cycle unless otherwise indicated.
- Mini-grants up to $300 are available. (click here for mini-grant application)
- For accounting purposes, all allocated funds are disbursed upon receipt of documentation of the expenditures.
- A portion of funds awarded during the Common grant cycle is set aside specifically for programs addressing health for youth under the age of 18 and senior citizens.
About deadlines
- Common grant applications are reviewed once a year.
- Applications must be completed and submitted (or postmarked) by June 30.
- Grants are normally paid within one year of approval. If necessary, a written request may be submitted for a six (6) month extension.
About allocation decisions
- A Grant Screening Committee comprised of NCMCF board members makes all allocation recommendations. No staff member votes on decisions regarding fund allocations.
- All recommendations for allocations must be approved by vote of the Board of Trustees at their quarterly meeting following the application deadline.
Budget Sample
You may use our budget sample to assist you in completing the budget section of your application. (Budget Sample PDF) 59kb
If you are unable to access pdf files, you may contact our office and we will send you a complete application packet.